A sensor network for monitoring vehicle operations comprises a set of wireless gateways, a plurality of wireless sensors, a plurality of wireless routers, and data processing system. The set of wireless gateways is capable of receiving emissions data from the sensor network. The plurality of wireless sensor units has sensors capable of monitoring vehicle emissions and is capable of generating the emissions data in response to monitoring the vehicle emissions. The plurality of wireless routers is capable of receiving emissions data received from the plurality of wireless sensor units and routing the emissions data received from the plurality of sensors to the set of wireless gateways. The data processing system is capable of receiving the operations data from the set of wireless gateways and capable of processing the operations data. The operations data may include data related to emissions from the vehicle or equipment.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A sensor network for monitoring vehicle emissions, comprising: a plurality of wireless sensor units, each of the plurality of wireless sensor units having a corresponding first sensor configured to measure a corresponding exhaust temperature of a corresponding vehicle of a plurality of vehicles, and a second corresponding sensor configured to measure a corresponding ambient temperature relative to the corresponding vehicle; a data processing system comprising a processor in communication with a computer readable storage device, the data processing system configured to receive the corresponding exhaust temperature and the corresponding ambient temperature; computer program instructions stored in the computer readable storage device which, when executed by the processor, are configured to plot a first curve of the corresponding exhaust temperature versus a time scale on a first graph, plot a second curve of the corresponding ambient temperature versus the time scale on the first graph, and use the first curve and the second curve to correlate a percentage load of the corresponding vehicle to emission data of the corresponding vehicle.
2. The sensor network of claim 1 , wherein: the computer program instructions are further configured to identify the emission data corresponding to a use pattern for each of a number of different support vehicles, wherein the number of different support vehicles include a fire truck, a fuel truck, a de-icing vehicle, a push back tug, and a cargo transport vehicle; and the computer program instructions are further configured to use the emission data corresponding to the use pattern for each of the number of different support vehicles to identify maintenance operations and repairs for each of the number of different support vehicles, to document emissions reduction improvements for the number of different support vehicles, to identify changes in one or more of the number of use patterns to reduce emissions in one or more of the number of different support vehicles, and to identify an efficiency for fuel usage in operations of the number of different support vehicles.
3. The sensor network of claim 1 , wherein the emissions data further comprises at least one of a time stamp and a position of a vehicle.
4. The sensor network of claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit further comprises: a device identifying a location of the wireless sensor unit and generating location information for inclusion in the emissions data.
5. The sensor network of claim 1 , further comprising: a plurality of wireless gateways in communication with the plurality of wireless sensor units; and a plurality of routers in communication with the plurality of wireless gateways, wherein the plurality of routers is-located on top of a set of buildings in a facility in which the vehicles are operated.
6. The sensor network of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of routers is located at a set of refueling stations in the facility.
7. The sensor network of claim 2 , wherein the number of support vehicles further comprises at least one of a shuttle bus, a catering vehicle, a ground power cart, a baggage loader, a work light, a fan, a pump, and a mobile air conditioning vehicle.
8. The sensor network of claim 1 , wherein the computer program instructions are further configured to correlate the percentage load to the emission data by being configured to fit a third curve to the first curve; identify a time constant from the third curve; determine whether the corresponding exhaust temperature is at a steady state; identify a one hundred percent load for the vehicle and identify a first steady state temperature rise above ambient of the corresponding vehicle at the one hundred percent load; identify an idle load for the corresponding vehicle and identify a second steady state temperature rise above ambient of the corresponding vehicle at idle; plot a first point at the one hundred percent load and the first steady state temperature rise and plot a second point at the idle load and the second steady state temperature rise, and draw a line through the first point and the second point to create a fourth curve; and use the fourth curve to identify the percentage load of the corresponding vehicle at a particular steady state temperature rise above ambient.
9. An apparatus comprising: a plurality of wireless sensor units attached to a corresponding plurality of fuel operated equipment, each of the plurality of wireless sensor units having a corresponding first sensor configured to measure a corresponding exhaust temperature of a corresponding fuel operated equipment, and a second corresponding sensor configured to measure a corresponding ambient temperature relative to the corresponding fuel operated equipment; a set of wireless gateways, in communication with ones of the plurality of wireless sensor units, configured to route operations data to a data processing system comprising a processor in communication with a computer readable storage device, the data processing system further configured to receive the corresponding exhaust temperature and the corresponding ambient temperature; computer program instructions stored in the computer readable storage device which, when executed by the processor, are configured to plot a first curve of the corresponding exhaust temperature versus a time scale on a first graph, plot a second curve of the corresponding ambient temperature versus the time scale on the first graph, and use the first curve and the second curve to correlate a percentage load of the corresponding fuel operated equipment to emission data of the corresponding fuel operated equipment.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the computer program instructions are further configured to identify the emission data corresponding to a use pattern for each of a number of different support vehicles, wherein the number of different support vehicles include a fire truck, a fuel truck, a de-icing vehicle, a push back tug, and a cargo transport vehicle; and the computer program instructions are further configured to use the emission data corresponding to the use pattern for each of the number of different support vehicles to identify maintenance operations and repairs for each of the number of different support vehicles, to document emissions reduction improvements for the number of different support vehicles, to identify changes in one or more of the number of use patterns to reduce emissions in one or more of the number of different support vehicles, and to identify an efficiency for fuel usage in operations of the number of different support vehicles.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the computer program instructions are further configured to correlate the percentage load to the emission data by being configured to fit a third curve to the first curve; identify a time constant from the third curve; determine whether the corresponding exhaust temperature is at a steady state; identify a one hundred percent load for the corresponding fuel operated equipment and identify a first steady state temperature rise above ambient of the corresponding fuel operated equipment at the one hundred percent load; identify an idle load for the corresponding fuel operated equipment and identify a second steady state temperature rise above ambient of the corresponding fuel operated equipment at idle; plot a first point at the one hundred percent load and the first steady state temperature rise and plot a second point at the idle load and the second steady state temperature rise, and draw a line through the first point and the second point to create a fourth curve; and use the fourth curve to identify the percentage load of the corresponding fuel operated equipment at a particular steady state temperature rise above ambient.
12. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising: a plurality of routers in communication with the plurality of wireless sensor units and located on top of a set of buildings in a facility in which the corresponding plurality of fuel operated equipment is operated.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of routers is located at a set of refueling stations in the facility.
14. A method implemented in a sensor network for monitoring vehicle emissions, the method comprising: in a system including a plurality of wireless sensor units, each of the plurality of wireless sensor units having a corresponding first sensor configured to measure a corresponding exhaust temperature of a corresponding vehicle of a plurality of vehicles, and a second corresponding sensor configured to measure a corresponding ambient temperature relative to the corresponding vehicle, measuring the corresponding exhaust temperature and measuring the corresponding ambient temperature; and in a data processing system comprising a processor in communication with a computer readable storage device, the data processing system configured to receive the corresponding exhaust temperature and the corresponding ambient temperature, executing computer program instructions stored in the computer readable storage device to plot a first curve of the corresponding exhaust temperature versus a time scale on a first graph, to plot a second curve of the corresponding ambient temperature versus the time scale on the first graph, and to use the first curve and the second curve to correlate a percentage load of the corresponding vehicle to emission data of the corresponding vehicle, wherein correlated data is formed.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of vehicles include a fire truck, a fuel truck, a de-icing vehicle, a push back tug, and a cargo transport vehicle.
16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising: analyzing the correlated data a selected period of time to identify emissions generated by the plurality of vehicles during the selected period of time.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising: analyzing the correlated data to form an analysis.
18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising: identifying, based on the analysis, changes to operations for the plurality of vehicles to reduce the emissions generated by the plurality of vehicles.
19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising: analyzing the correlated data over a period of time to identify changes in emission levels as a result of changes to operations made within the period of time.
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June 11, 2008
December 18, 2012
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